Conostylis aurea

Conostylis aurea
C. aurea near Jurien Bay, Western Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Commelinales
Family:	Haemodoraceae
Genus:	Conostylis
Species:	C. aurea
Binomial name
Conostylis aurea Lindl.[1]

Conostylis aurea, commonly known as golden conostylis, is a plant in the bloodwort family Haemodoraceae. It is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia.

Description

Conostylis aurea is a rhizomatous, tufted perennial, grass-like herb. It grows to a height of 0.15–0.4 metres (0.49–1.31 ft) and a width of about 0.3 metres (0.98 ft).^[2] As with others in the genus, the leaves are strap-like and the flowers occur in clusters on stalks which arise from the base of the leaves. There are six tepals and six stamens, one at the base of each tepal-lobe.^[3] In his notes on his original description of the species, John Lindley noted "Conostylis abounds the most in species, some of which are handsome but others are mere weeds..... C. aurea is a much handsomer species....flowers of a bright golden yellow."^[4]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described in 1840 by botanist John Lindley in A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.^[1] The specific epithet (aurea) is the Latin word meaning golden.^[5]

Distribution

The golden conostylis occurs in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographical regions of Western Australia. It grows on white or yellow sand or gravelly loam in winter-wet situations.^[6]

Conservation

Conostylis aurea is classified as not threatened by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.^[2]

References